20th Century Fashion from Deco to Disco

Alternative Fashion: 200 Years of Tribal Ethnic Style

Fringe, turbans, caftans, long dangly ear rings: it’s “hippie” style and it started in the 60’s, right?

Not exactly. It’s bohemian style and its been around for a while. Here are some archival photos from the late 1800’s:

1800’s bohemian style

Before we called them hippies, there was a creative class of of writers, dancers, musicians and visual artists known as bohemians and their style has been an exotic alternative to mainstream fashion for over 200 years. While hippies were completely of the moment in the late 60’s and early 70’s, they were part of a long lineage of free thinking, non-conforming, alternative people.

Part of the bohemian aesthetic involves wearing non Western “ethnic” clothes in order to transcend conventions and to express the idea of more authentic, sensual and spiritual qualities believed be more present in tribal cultures. We’re talking about Indian print skirts, Indonesian batik sarongs, Moroccan djellabas, Chinese jackets, Japanese kimonos, Mexican embroidered dresses, and African dashikis, worn with moccasins, boots or sandals, fringe, feathers, Indian turquoise jewelry, natural bead jewelry, capes, scarves and turbans.

Let’s let Janis Joplin show us how it was done in the 1960’s:

Jimi broke a few sartorial as well as musical conventions:

Over the last two centuries, the hallmarks of bohemian style have been:

I am a vintage clothing shop owner living and working in rural north Florida. I believe in adding a little vinegar and molasses to my greens, having my coffee outside whenever possible, and mixing something vintage into every room and every outfit.

Winters Past is a vintage emporium in historic Micanopy, Florida, 10 miles south of Gainesville. We specialize in a hand picked selection of antique and vintage jewelry, clothing and accessories.
352-545-7009
Open Tuesday-Saturday 11-5 & Sunday 12-4